The benefits of feeding human milk to
preterm infants are realized not only
in the NICU but also in the fewer hospital
readmissions for illness in the
3 years after hospital discharge.
The potent benefits of human milk are
such that all preterm infants should
receive human milk. Milk from the infant’s
own mother, fresh or previously
frozen, should be the primary diet, and
it should be fortified appropriately for
the infant born weighing less than 1.5
kg. If the mother’s milk is unavailable
despite significant lactation support,
pasteurized donor milk should be used